Many brides choose to donate their wedding dresses after the big day. There are plenty of organizations that will accept your dress, ranging from charities to used clothing stores for different causes.
For example, Michigan-based The Brides Project will sell your dress to raise money for breast cancer research and other programs at the Cancer Support Community of Greater Ann Arbor. They also work with NICU Helping Hands to repurpose wedding gowns into “angel gowns” that families can use to wrap their deceased babies in during their final moments. The organization works with about 180 seamstresses who are volunteers from around the country to create the specialized gowns.
You can also find charities that will resell your gown to benefit a specific cause, such as Shared Dream Dresses. This Facebook group was started by librarian Adele Puccio to give brides who can’t afford a new wedding dress the opportunity to wear their dream dress again. Her collection contains more than 200 dresses, including ones worn by brides who lost their original gown in a fire and one of Puccio’s own from 1985.
The organization’s guidelines state that they will only accept gowns less than three years old and in good condition. They prefer trumpet, A-line and ballgown designs. They will also accept bridesmaid and flower girl dresses and bridal accessories. Another option is donating your gown to Brides Against Breast Cancer, a national organization that will resell your dress and use the proceeds to provide financial assistance to women with cancer. You’ll have to email the charity before donating your dress to make sure they will accept it.
Other options include selling your gown on a local buy/sell/trade site, such as Craigslist. Many thrift stores, such as Goodwill, will also accept your dress. They may have a specific donation area or a page on their website with instructions for how to drop off your dress.
Some charities and thrift shops will not accept your dress if it has visible stains or is damaged in any way. Others may impose other restrictions, such as requiring the gown to be cleaned before being donated. Before you donate your dress, check out the organization’s website to find out more about their vetting process and donation policies.
If you have any questions, contact the charity directly before donating. They will be able to give you specific instructions for how to prepare your gown for donation and how to safely pack it up. You can also look up fun ways to repurpose your dress before you donate it. You could dye it another color or refashion it into something else, such as a cocktail dress or home decor piece. Some people even get creative and turn their gowns into baby clothes or maternity dresses for expecting moms. You can also make a ring pillow out of your dress or use the fabric to create keepsake blankets for children or pillows for loved ones who have passed away.